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Songs of Conquest Faction Guide

Compare Arleon, Rana, Barya and Barony of Loth through the four base-game factions’ themes, playstyles, army composition and points to check to choose one that fits how you like to play.

Updated: 2026/10/17 Scope: four base-game factions, their four campaigns, and multiplayer; DLC factions excluded

Compare army themes and what to check when choosing a faction. Competitive win rates and learning times for each faction have not been verified, so this guide does not give a fixed strength ranking. How a faction plays varies with the patch, map and army composition.

🏰 Comparing the four base-game factions

Focus	Faction	Theme	Points to check	Playstyle
Humans and Faey	⚔️ Arleon (knights) Arleon	Knights, Faey and order	Matching troops with Order, Chaos and Creation	A straightforward style built around durable troops and defense. Its dependable early development makes it an accessible introduction to the game.
Swamp creatures	🐸 Rana (swamp tribes) Rana	Swamps, creatures and magic	Combining Wielder and troops	A faction built around swamp-dwelling tribes and creatures. Army building focuses on the combination of Wielder and troops.
Mercenaries and technology	💰 Barya (merchant states) Barya	Commerce, mercenaries and technology	Resource allocation and troop choices	A resource-management style. These independent merchant states broke away from the empire and field mercenaries and technological troops.
Living and undead troops	💀 Barony of Loth (necromancy) Barony of Loth	Necromancy, undeath and the arcane	Army composition and intended spells	A faction centered on necromancy and undead troops. It is considered capable of building up its forces over longer conflicts.

🏰 Factions in detail

⚔️ Arleon (knights) Humans and Faey Knights, Faey and order Base-game faction

Arleon consists of baronies left behind by a fallen empire. Its human knights have allied with the Faey, magical woodland beings. Cecilia Stoutheart leads its main campaign. A balanced army makes Arleon a relatively approachable faction for newcomers.

🎮 Playstyle

A straightforward style built around durable troops and defense. Its dependable early development makes it an accessible introduction to the game.

⚙️ Distinguishing mechanics

Human knights and the Faey form an alliance. Its armies combine troops from both groups.

📊 What to check when choosing

Army focus: Humans and Faey

Check: Matching troops with Order, Chaos and Creation

▍ Consider it if you enjoy: a first playthrough, familiar Heroes of Might and Magic-style armies, direct attacks or defensive battles

🐸 Rana (swamp tribes) Swamp creatures Swamps, creatures and magic Base-game faction

A faction of swamp-dwelling tribes. Rasc leads its main campaign, From the Ashes. Many of its Wielders are shamans who use nature-based magic. Its early development takes some adjustment, so it is often considered a choice for more experienced players.

🎮 Playstyle

A faction built around swamp-dwelling tribes and creatures. Army building focuses on the combination of Wielder and troops.

⚙️ Distinguishing mechanics

Swamp creatures such as Ravagers, Chelun and Eth’dra gather under its banner. Build an army by combining troop abilities with the Essence they generate.

📊 What to check when choosing

Army focus: Swamp creatures

Check: Combining Wielder and troops

▍ Consider it if you enjoy: experimenting with swamp creatures and Wielders, or combining army composition with magic

💰 Barya (merchant states) Mercenaries and technology Commerce, mercenaries and technology Base-game faction

Barya is a group of merchant states that gained independence from the empire. Bihgli Satherdown leads its main campaign, The Price of Freedom. Mercenaries and Tinkerers are characteristic of its armies, making it an option for players who enjoy managing resources and gold.

🎮 Playstyle

A resource-management style. These independent merchant states broke away from the empire and field mercenaries and technological troops.

⚙️ Distinguishing mechanics

A trading nation whose background includes an alliance with the Harima. Gold management is considered an important part of its playstyle.

📊 What to check when choosing

Army focus: Mercenaries and technology

Check: Resource allocation and troop choices

▍ Consider it if you enjoy: resource management and economic strategy as an intermediate or experienced player, or artillery and explosives

💀 Barony of Loth (necromancy) Living and undead troops Necromancy, undeath and the arcane Base-game faction

Its full name is Barony of Loth. Baron Aldus of Loth is a central figure in its main campaign, Together for Her. Necromancy and the excavation of ancient artifacts shape the faction, whose armies are built around undead troops.

🎮 Playstyle

A faction centered on necromancy and undead troops. It is considered capable of building up its forces over longer conflicts.

⚙️ Distinguishing mechanics

Necromancy and the excavation of ancient artifacts define the faction’s theme (as described by soc.th.gl).

📊 What to check when choosing

Army focus: Living and undead troops

Check: Army composition and intended spells

▍ Consider it if you enjoy: large armies, undead troops and accumulating strength as an intermediate or experienced player

🧭 Which faction fits your playstyle?

Q. This is my first game of this kind; I have not played Heroes of Might and Magic.

→ This guide suggests Arleon. You can learn the basics through its first campaign and armies that combine humans and Faey.

Q. Atmosphere and setting matter to me more than tactical complexity.

→ Loth’s necromancy and Arleon’s knights are popular choices: the former has a dark-fantasy setting, while the latter offers more traditional fantasy.

Q. I enjoy managing money and resources and building an economy.

→ Consider Barya. Its background as independent merchant states is reflected in armies of mercenaries and technological troops. Plan which troops to recruit and how to divide resources between troops and buildings.

Q. I enjoy status effects, combinations and more involved tactics.

→ Consider the combinations available through Rana’s armies and magic. Match the Essence your troops generate to the spells you want to use. Claims of the highest damage across all factions or an advantage from a unique mechanic have not been verified.

Q. I want to win in multiplayer.

→ Check the current patch, map and opposing army. This guide does not have measured competitive win rates for each faction and does not name a strongest faction for multiplayer.

❓ Frequently asked questions

Q1. Which faction does this guide recommend for beginners?

This guide suggests starting with Arleon. Its basic armies combine humans and Faey, and its first campaign gives you a place to learn. Magic uses Essence generated by troops; Arleon mainly draws on Order, Chaos and Creation.

Q2. Are Rana and Loth difficult to play?

Rana offers a chance to learn combinations of swamp creatures and Wielders; Loth offers combinations of living and undead troops. Choose by how well you can connect the Essence your troops generate to the spells you want to use, rather than a simple difficulty ranking. Measured win rates and learning times for these factions have not been verified.

Q3. What distinguishes each faction?

Arleon is an alliance of human knights and the Faey. Rana brings together tribes and swamp creatures. Barya is a group of merchant states that employs mercenaries and inventors. Barony of Loth is defined by necromancy and undead troops. Each has a distinct theme.

Q4. Which faction is the strongest?

There is no single answer because balance patches change the competitive environment. Rana and Barony of Loth are often considered options for experienced players because of their more specialized playstyles, while Arleon is considered easier to build straightforward, consistent tactics around. Check current Steam Community and Reddit discussions for recent assessments.

📸 Songs of Conquest screenshots